Tory leadership contest looms as 40 MPs call to oust Theresa May

Conservative Party scandals and stalling Brexit negotiations increase pressure on May to step down

Simon Brodkin gives a mock P45 to Prime Minister Theresa May as she was delivering her speech on the final day of the Conservative Party annual conference in ManchesterPaul Ellis/AFP

Theresa May's fight to retain control of the Conservative Party has taken another blow, as 40 MPs agree to sign a letter of no confidence in the embattled prime minister.

This is just eight short of the number needed to trigger a contest for leadership of the party, potentially leading to May being replaced by another Conservative. The revelation kick-starts what will likely be another week of turmoil for the Tories.

The last week saw Priti Patel become the second cabinet minister to resign. Meanwhile, two other ministers, Damian Green and foreign secretary Boris Johnson, face mounting pressure to stand down.

If 48 MPs sign a letter of no confidence in May, a leadership contest would be triggered. If a challenger then defeats May, he or she would become leader of the Conservatives and take the role of prime minister, without a general election being necessary.

Since calling for a snap election in June - then winning by a narrower-than-expected margin and losing parliamentary majority - May has struggled to assert herself as PM and Conservative leader, a position made increasingly difficult as her party is hit by multiple front-page scandals. As Britain continues Brexit negotiations, confidence in May is falling.

Corbyn wrote in the Sunday Times: "Continuing uncertainty about the government's approach to Brexit is now the biggest risk facing our country. The prime minister must end the confusion, take on the 'no-deal' extremists in her government and back a jobs-first Brexit for Britain."

The paper reports that, speaking privately, some Tory MPs and ministers agree with Corbyn and fear May has become a liability to Britain's divorce from the European Union. One minister reportedly said: "It's a horrible thing to say...but we are getting closer and closer to the point whereby we need some time in opposition to regroup."

As May's grip on her party fails, the European Commission has set up a "prepared taskforce" for dealing with the possibility of Britain taking a no-deal route out of the EU.